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MANIC DEPRESSIVE PSYCHOSIS

The mood of people with manic depressive psychosis cycles dramatically. They embark upon a roller coaster ride that takes them from the depths of depression to the heights of ecstasy. Down in the depths, depression leaves its victims vegetative, nihilistic and frankly suicidal. On the upswings mania drives its victims into the arms of hyperactivity, elation and sleeplessness. It leads them into bizarre behavioural states. The world is their oyster. They feel 150 per cent! But mania frequently gets people into trouble with the law; especially in relation to financial matters. It is not unusual for manic people to buy the Sydney Harbour Bridge or hire a Rolls Royce to drive from Melbourne to Cairns. It goes without saying that manic people rarely have the money to pay for their excesses. Their cheques invariably bounce.
The discovery that Lithium Carbonate puts the brakes on aggressive mood swings has been a God send to the victims of manic depressive psychosis. Not only do regular doses of Lithium restore the mood to normal equilibrium; they prevent further instability. Unfortunately the therapeutic dose of Lithium takes blood levels very close to toxic concentrations. Treatment needs to be monitored very closely by the attending medical practitioner. People taking Lithium for more than a few years can develop both kidney and thyroid trouble.

Home Remedies
The victims of manic depressive psychosis rarely present themselves for treatment. It is their families, friends and work mates that bear the brunt of suffering and draw these people to the attention of health care professionals. Some experienced people with manic depressive illnesses can detect upswings in their mood by their behaviour; especially in relation to spending. They are then sensible enough to add a major tranquillizer to any other connflum8 course of medication.

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ASEPTIC MENINGITIS

The term aseptic meningitis refers to any meningitis for which a cause is not apparent after initial evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with routine Gram stain and culture. The incidence of aseptic meningitis is difficult to identify, as many cases are likely unreported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that between 1982 and 1988, there were approximately 8300 to 12,700 cases of aseptic meningitis. Although viral causes are the most common, there are numerous causes, ranging from self-limited to life-threatening. Differentiating among these can be challenging.
Aseptic meningitis is most commonly caused by enteroviruses, with estimates ranging from 80% to 95% of cases. Other infectious causes include arboviruses, herpes simplex virus, partially treated bacterial meningitis, Lyme disease, tuberculosis, and various fungi. However, a number of noninfectious causes; notably drugs, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies, have also been implicated.
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SUNBURN: FEELING THE BURN

If you’re turning red, get out of the sun immediately. “The skin never forgets,” says Thomas A. Gossel, Ph.D., a registered pharmacist and dean of the College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University in Ada. “Any amount of exposure to the sun is potentially damaging.”
If within a few hours you see severe reddening or blistering or you experience weakness or convulsions, get medical help right away. But if your sunburn appears to be more moderate, there are some things you can do to help you through it.
Cool off. The tried-and-true remedies are still among the best for dealing with the immediate heat and pain of mild to moderate sunburn. A cool compress or bath—the water should be body temperature—provides temporary relief. Never use ice water or place ice directly on your burned skin. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or anesthetics containing lidocaine or benzocaine also help.
Moisturize. Cooling and soaking sunburned skin can give temporary relief, but they can also make the skin turn dry in the long run. So after you cool it down, smooth on some bath oil and then lock it in a minute later with skin lotion or moisturizer.
Dose up. Aspirin-two to three tablets every six hours for up to two days-may block the inflammation involved in sunburn. Ibuprofen is also recommended. Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle.
Toss a salad. Some sunburn victims swear by home remedies that include slices of raw potato or cucumber applied to the burn area, gauze soaked in cool milk or cool extract of boiled lettuce, a tepid bath that’s had a cupful of white vinegar added to it or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel and strapped to the hot spot. If it works for you, then consider it good medicine.
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BACH FLOWER REMEDIES: ADMINISTRATION OF BACH FLOWER REMEDIES – CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY

When several remedies appear to be called for in a certain case, effort should be made to carefully assess the permanence of different symptoms, -symptoms which point out to the nature of person, to his personality; symptoms which have been a part of his very being and from which he has never been free. The combination relating to these symptoms should be made to last at least 3 weeks in the first instance. The 2nd combination covering other symptoms which are of temporary nature may be made for only one week in the treatment bottle, as some or all of these symptoms are likely to disappear after one week’s treatment, and it will not be necessary to include in the new combination those remedies which related to those symptoms which no longer exist.
The treatment bottle containing constitutional medicine of the patient shall be refilled with the same remedy for an other 6 weeks and may be refilled for further period till necessary.
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астматики

В то время как почти все астматики ведут обычный образ жизни при условии получения правильных инструкций и лечения, у некоторых больных могут развиваться серьёзные осложнения, связанные с астмой. Иногда эти проблемы сводятся к временным рецидивам, с которыми легко справиться обычными методами. В других случаях, у больных могут появиться вызывающие опасение трудности с дыханием, требующие немедленной медицинской помощи, госпитализации или даже помещения в реанимационное отделение. Многие серьёзные ухудшения состояния можно свести к минимуму и даже предотвратить, если астматики и члены их семей научатся узнавать следующие десять ранних предупреждающих признаков, говорящих об ухудшении состояния:
1. Чрезмерные потери рабочего или учебного времени.
2. Кашель и хрипы, не снимаемые медикаментами.
3. Одышка при малейшем физическом усилии.
4. Необходимость пользоваться ингалятором каждые 2—3 часа.
5. Постоянные хрипы во сне.
6. Постоянная высокая температура.
7. Сильные боли в шее или в груди.
8. Постоянная рвота.
9. Затрудненная речь из-за наличия хрипов.
10. Цианоз (синеватый отгенок) губ и ногтей рук.
Наличие одного или нескольких из этих десяти предупреждающих признаков является основанием для опасений. Выходящая из-под контроля астма требует немедленного обращения к лечащему врачу или в отделение неотложной помощи.
Дети и молодые люди более всего подвержены неожиданным и непредсказуемым приступам астмы. Такие эпизоды, часто возникающие в результате воздействия аллергенов или физических нагрузок, обычно снимаются после одного двух вдохов из карманного ингалятора или с помощью домашнего распылителя. Если острый приступ не проходит или сопровождается одним из перечисленных выше десяти признаков, отягощающих астму, больной должен вызвать неотложную помощь для оценки своего состояния принятия дальнейших мер. У взрослых астма принимает скорее хронические, чем эпизодические формы, т.е. реже бывают острые приступы. Многие больные, являющиеся к врачу с «острой астмой», уже хрипели до этого в течение нескольких дней или даже недель. Взрослые, действительно подверженные тяжёлым приступам астмы взрывного характера, часто бывают чувствительны к аспириноподобным лекарствам.
Когда хрипящий пациент появляется в поликлинике, врач должен быстро оценить тяжесть приступа по внешнему виду пациента, по прослушиванию грудной слетки и по результатам теста на дыхание. Затем рекомендуется ингаляционное лечение.
Те немногие пациенты, состояние которых не улучшается после проведённой в кабинете врача терапии, должны отсылаться в ближайшее отделение неотложной помощи, где врачи продолжат лечение методом ингаляции, дополнив его внутривенным вливанием аминофиллина, препарата теофиллина. Если и там не удаётся прервать приступ астмы, пациента госпитализируют для принятия дополнительных лечебных мер. Вот основные признаки, которые говорят о необходимости срочной госпитализации:
1. Учащённый пульс и быстрое дыхание.
2. Использование мышц шеи и ребер при дыхании.
3.Сильные хрипы или неспособность разговаривать.
4. Постоянное обильное потоотделение.
5. Посинение губ и ногтей рук (цианоз).
6. Психические нарушения.
Дети и молодые люди более подвержены острым приступам, требующим оказания немедленной помощи, и они же лучше реагируют на лечение, что позволяет избежать нежелательной госпитализации. Многие взрослые-астматики, являющиеся к врачу с острым приступом, могут оказаться очень сложными пациентами, поскольку вечно оттягивают визит к врачу или обращение за неотложной помощью.
Очень небольшой процент пациентов, не реагирующих на методы стационарного лечения, впадают в угрожающее жизни состояние, которое называется острой респираторной недостаточностью. При респираторной недостаточности бронхи практически полностью блокируются. Лёгкие лишаются жизненно важного кислорода и не могут выделять токсичный углекислый газ. Такое состояние можно представить себе как очень медленное удушье. В этом случае функция дыхания поддерживается механическим способом: пациентов подключают к аппарату «искусственные лёгкие». Как только состояние пациента начинает улучшаться, производительность «искусственных лёгких» снижают и пациент мало-помалу начинает дышать самостоятельно.
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EVENING PRIMROSE OIL AND RAYNAUD’S SYNDROME

A study in Glasgow in 1985 showed that patients with Raynaud’s syndrome definitely appeared to benefit from treatment with evening primrose oil.
The study, which was carried out at the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, found that six out of 11 patients felt a definite benefit from evening primrose oil, while two patients felt a moderate benefit, and three no benefit.
The group of 11 patients on the evening primrose oil treatment of 12 capsules a day was being compared against 10 patients on a placebo. As the weather got worse, the group taking the placebo experienced significantly more attacks than the group taking evening primrose oil. The severity of attacks and the coldness of hands improved in the evening primrose oil group.
One interesting result from this study was that if any improvement was going to happen at all, it was noticeable after four weeks of treatment. Sadly, there was a definite fall-off in the benefits by the end of the eighth week. Some improvements that were noted at two weeks or six weeks were not sustained beyond eight weeks. The peak results happened midway through the study.
However, all the results showed an improvement in the group taking evening primrose oil.
The study continued for only two months, and as yet there have been no studies using evening primrose oil for longer in these conditions.
Many of the patients taking evening primrose oil said the course of treatment was like a tonic. Ten out of 11 patients on the evening primrose oil said they felt generally less depressed and had more energy. Seven patients asked to restart the drug two months later, complaining of a relapse in their Raynaud’s symptoms and loss of mood elevation.
The doctors who conducted the study said ‘in a disease such as Raynaud’s phenomenon where the attacks can be precipitated by strong negative emotion, a drug with an antidepressant effect might be useful’.
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DIARRHEA

Diarrhea constitutes loose bowel motions with an increased frequency and the causes of diarrhea range from viruses, through alcohol, anxiety and inflammatory bowel disease to cancer of the bowel. Cancer of the large bowel typically presents with alternating diarrhea and constipation. Given an innocent diagnosis, medical management of diarrhea involves the use of a synthetic narcotic drug with constipating properties. Drugs of this class include Lomotil, Immodium and Codeine.
Home Remedies
High fibre produces a soft motion in constipation and a formed motion in diarrhea. Fine china clay sold over the counter as Kaolin or Kaomagma also binds loose bowels. Fatty foods, fruit and fruit juice aggravate diarrhea. Avoid them until the attack is over.
Children with diarrheal disease pose special management problems. Doctors don’t use narcotic derivatives and Kaolin in childhood diarrhea. The task becomes one of replacing lost fluid and salt until the diarrhea stops. We are fortunate in Australia to have over the counter preparations like Glucolyte and Repalyte. Mixed with water they replace fluid and salt more than adequately.
If fluid and salt do fall behind in the domestic management of childhood diarrhea and a child’s tongue becomes dry or urine output falls off it is time for medical assessment. The doctor must then decide whether oral salt and fluid replacement is to continue, or whether salt and fluid should be administered intravenously in a hospital.
Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week or that does not respond to home remedies is also worth medical assessment. The collection of a faecal sample and laboratory tests might indicate the presence of a treatable variety of infectious disease. A colonoscopy could reveal the presence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
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Diarrhea constitutes loose bowel motions with an increased frequency and the causes of diarrhea range from viruses, through alcohol, anxiety and inflammatory bowel disease to cancer of the bowel. Cancer of the large bowel typically presents with alternating diarrhea and constipation. Given an innocent diagnosis, medical management of diarrhea involves the use of a synthetic narcotic drug with constipating properties. Drugs of this class include Lomotil, Immodium and Codeine.
Home RemediesHigh fibre produces a soft motion in constipation and a formed motion in diarrhea. Fine china clay sold over the counter as Kaolin or Kaomagma also binds loose bowels. Fatty foods, fruit and fruit juice aggravate diarrhea. Avoid them until the attack is over.Children with diarrheal disease pose special management problems. Doctors don’t use narcotic derivatives and Kaolin in childhood diarrhea. The task becomes one of replacing lost fluid and salt until the diarrhea stops. We are fortunate in Australia to have over the counter preparations like Glucolyte and Repalyte. Mixed with water they replace fluid and salt more than adequately.If fluid and salt do fall behind in the domestic management of childhood diarrhea and a child’s tongue becomes dry or urine output falls off it is time for medical assessment. The doctor must then decide whether oral salt and fluid replacement is to continue, or whether salt and fluid should be administered intravenously in a hospital.Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week or that does not respond to home remedies is also worth medical assessment. The collection of a faecal sample and laboratory tests might indicate the presence of a treatable variety of infectious disease. A colonoscopy could reveal the presence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
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FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, EMPLOYERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HELPING PROFESSIONS: HELPING THE DRUG-USING ADDICT OR THE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC-DRUGS LEAD BACK TO THE DRUG OF CHOICE

Addicts who have stayed off drugs for a time often recall how taking prescribed drugs eventually led them back to their drug of choice. Heroin addicts who stay off heroin for a time, either on methadone, tranquillisers or alcohol, often end up back on heroin itself.
‘I did manage to give up heroin for a few days,’ remembers Susan. ‘But whenever I did this I always substituted with another drug. I wouldn’t leave the house without a bag of tranquillisers. I was also drinking very heavily and smoking dope.
‘My fiance used drugs too. With him I managed to scrape together enough money to get treatment from a private doctor. We were paying the doctor to give us substitute drugs to make it easier to get off heroin. At the same time we were still taking the heroin. It sounds completely insane, but it illustrates how I couldn’t control the habit.’
Each time Susan went off heroin, she turned to tranquillisers or alcohol as a substitute. Each time, she went back to heroin eventually. A year and a half later she found Narcotics Anonymous, has stayed off all drugs for nearly two years since and is enjoying life.
‘I don’t have to use drugs, any drugs at all, or drink now. I am truly grateful for that each day. But I am sure I wouldn’t be clean now except for NA. I know from the amount of times I tried to stop using, that I couldn’t do it on my own.’
Sometimes addicts or alcoholics simply make a complete switch. They discover that the new drug, whatever it is, is just as good as their old one.
Nor do drugs work any better with alcoholics. Giving alcoholics drugs will not stop them using alcohol. Many alcoholics simply take their doctors’ prescriptions and drink on top of the pills.
Even those who do not mix pills and booze are not stopped from drinking by taking pills. ‘I went to my practitioner and told him I was an alcoholic several years before I went to AA,’ says George, a thirty-two-year-old printer, married with two small children. ‘He gave me some Hemineverin and I stopped drinking. Religiously I took those pills and I didn’t have a drink. My wife watched me like a hawk. And when they were finished, I went and had a drink. A bottle of whisky in twelve hours.’
Nor is Antabuse (disulfiram) or Abstem (citrated calcium carbimide) a long-term answer. Alcoholics will simply stop taking the Antabuse tablets and start drinking again. Even knowing the dangers, some alcoholics simply drink on top of these pills and get violently sick.
Neither drug dependence nor alcoholism can be medicated away.
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FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, EMPLOYERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HELPING PROFESSIONS: HELPING THE DRUG-USING ADDICT OR THE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC-TREATING ADDICTS WITH DRUGS

Giving addicts prescribed drugs to get them off illegal drugs is not only a waste of resources; we believe it also delays their eventual recovery. Methadone maintenance treatment usually just makes heroin addicts into methadone addicts. Likewise, giving an alcoholic tranquillisers simply turns an alcoholic into a tranquilliser addict. It is like giving brown sugar, instead of white, to a diabetic!
Of course, many addicts and alcoholics beg for substitute drugs, because they see it as the easy way out. They cannot envisage life without some kind of chemical crutch. Unfortunately, the prescribed drugs, whether methadone, benzodiazepines, Temgesic (buprenorphine) or DF 118 (dihydrocodeine tartrate) are all highly addictive for addicts and alcoholics. They abuse these drugs for their mood-altering effects.
Tranquillisers in particular have more prolonged withdrawals than either alcohol or illegal drugs, so that keeping addicts on prescribed drugs lands them in even greater difficulty when they want to come off.
Besides, addicts are rarely truthful about their drug habit. ‘When I got put on a methadone programme, it was meant to be a reducing programme,’ recalls Carol. ‘But I never got it reduced.   Every time I went to the clinic they’d say “How about a lower methadone script?” I would make up excuses why not. I’d say “If you lower my methadone I’ll go out and use heroin.” The irony of this was that I was scoring heroin anyway, even though I was on the methadone programme.   Especially at weekends. I’d score then, as I didn’t count weekends.’
Indeed, methadone is widely available on the black market, because many addicts collect their methadone prescriptions, sell the methadone and buy heroin with the proceeds! Others simply add heroin and other illegal drugs on top of the methadone they are taking, sometimes with fatal results.
There is a further problem facing drug-dependence clinics. Each clinic spawns a network of patients who know each other and swap information about drugs – where to get them, what quality is available, current prices of methadone on the black market as well as current illegal drug prices, which doctors can be conned for a prescription and what is the best story to tell to them. Doctors who are generous with their prescribing often find themselves with a host of new clients.
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YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH: GENERAL BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS: HOW TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF DISTRESS AT SEPARATION

You can minimise the amount of distress at separation in a number of ways. First, you should acknowledge that for toddlers in particular, some initial and usually transient distress is developmentally normal and appropriate. In fact, we would be a bit concerned if the young child did not exhibit some feelings at initial separation. Second, you can prepare youngsters for separation by introducing them slowly to the new situation. For example, it is a good idea to have a new babysitter come to the house a few days beforehand and interact with the child in your presence. Similarly, the child should be taken to a new daycare or kindergarten ahead of the actual starting time, so that he has the opportunity to slowly become accustomed to the new situation while the parents are present. Sometimes it is helpful for you to stay at the kindergarten for a few hours on the first day. In most instances, the daycare or kindergarten teacher is very experienced at such separations, and her advice should be followed. Third, it is also common and perfectly normal for the child to be angry with the parent(s) at the end of the day, or when they return after having left the child. You should expect this and take it in your stride rather than see this behaviour as evidence that the child is not coping with the separation.

It is best to deflect any expressed anger or sulking by being positive about and showing a genuine interest in the child’s day. Ask lots of questions, tell the child how interesting his experiences during the day must have been, and remind the child what a good time he must be having with all of these new and different things to do.

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